'Pablo' slow-crawls towards the west-northwest

Four areas remained under storm signals Wednesday night as Typhoon Pablo (Bopha) maintained its strength and moved west-northwest slowly, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration forecasters said. In its 11 p.m. advisory, PAGASA said the typhoon packed maximum sustained winds of 120 kilometers per hour near the center, with gustiness of up to 150 kph, and it was moving west-northwest at 7 kph. The state weather service said Typhoon Pablo was estimated to be 180 kilometers northwest of Roxas, Northern Palawan as of 10 p.m. By Thursday evening, it is expected to be 330 kms west of Coron, Palawan. By Friday evening it is expected to be 570 kms west of Coron, Palawan and outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility. Under Storm Signal No. 3 are Northern Palawan and the Calamian Group of Islands, while the rest of Palawan is under Signal No. 2. Under Signal No. 1 is Occidental Mindoro. PAGASA said Typhoon Pablo may bring rainfall of 10 to 18 millimeters per hour (heavy to intense) within its 400-km diameter. It warned residents in low-lying and mountainous areas under storm signals to be alert against possible flash floods and landslides. Also, it warned those in coastal areas under public storm warning signals 2 and 3 to be alert for big waves or storm surges. PAGASA reminded fishing boats and other sea vessels not to venture out into the seaboards of Luzon and Western Visayas. — DVM, GMA News